What Is Cabinet Refacing?

If you’re ready to give your kitchen a makeover, but are working with a small budget, think about cabinet refacing (also called cabinet resurfacing). The only catch is that your existing cabinet boxes need to be in good condition. That’s because with refacing, you keep the boxes, apply a new finish material to their surfaces, and replace the doors, drawers, and hardware. Read on to learn more about cabinet refacing and how it works.

What is Cabinet Refacing?

Cabinet refacing allows you or a professional to transform your current cabinets and drawer fronts by putting a new veneer on the existing surface to refresh the look and give your cabinetry new life. Often, the door hinges and cabinet hardware also get an upgrade, so your kitchen looks almost brand-new without the price tag of an extensive renovation. 

How Much Does Cabinet Refacing Cost? 

Although cabinet refacing will save you money in comparison to replacing your cabinets, it’s still not a low-cost project. You can expect to spend anywhere from $30 to $100 on each cabinet door, and that doesn’t include the money you’ll spend on new hardware or tools. 

In total, cabinet refacing costs about $4,500 on the low end to $10,550 on the high end, depending on what material is used to reface your cabinets and how many cabinets will need refacing.  

Can I DIY Cabinet Refacing? 

You can attempt to reface your kitchen cabinets as long as you have the time, patience, and attention to detail necessary to complete this DIY project. The more hands that are able to help, though, the better, especially if you have a large kitchen with several sets of cabinets to reface. 

If you’re wary of your DIY skills or don’t have the spare time to do it solo, you can certainly contact a cabinet refinishing contractor near you. A cabinet refacing pro will provide the skills, tools, and experience necessary to transform your cabinetry quickly and effectively.

How Do You Reface Cabinets? 

If you’ve ever applied wallpaper, you’ll probably be well prepared to apply veneer to your cabinets or drawers. As long as you have the necessary tools, materials, and patience, the refacing process should only take a few days to complete. The steps below can help guide you through refacing your cabinets to look brand new. 

1. Remove Cabinets and Drawers

Using a screwdriver, remove all of the hinges from your cabinet doors and remove them from the boxes. Make sure to label each drawer and the box it attaches to with the same number on a piece of tape, so you know where to reattach them. You’ll also want to remove your drawers and label them as well before you start refacing them.  

2. Take Off Hardware 

Whether you have drawer pulls, knobs, or handles, you’ll want to remove the hardware on your cabinets and drawers with a screwdriver. If you plan to replace your current hardware with new hardware, you may want to fill in any holes with wood filler if your new hardware has less holes or is a different size than what you currently have. 

3. Clean Cabinet Doors and Drawers 

Refacing your cabinets will be much easier if you remove residue, grease, or dust before you put new fronts on. To properly clean your cabinet doors and drawer fronts, you’ll need to put on a pair of latex gloves and give the cabinets a deep clean. Once the doors and drawer fronts are dry, lightly sand them down with a medium-grit sandpaper (#60 to #80 grit) and wipe them down with a dry cloth. 

4. Make and Attach Plywood Panels 

Before applying your new veneer, you’ll need to take plywood panels and cut them into ¼-inch pieces and adhere them to the cabinet doors with carpenter glue. Secure the plywood pieces with finishing nails and wait for the glue to dry before sanding for a smooth surface. 

5. Measure Cabinet Doors 

Once the plywood is in place, you will need to measure the width and length of the cabinet doors to know how big your veneer pieces will need to be. After you’ve recorded your measurements, cut the veneer into strips using a utility knife and a straight edge. Each strip should be about ½-inch wider than the width of your cabinets and 2 inches longer than their length. 

6. Apply Veneer

Line your first piece of veneer up so that it overhangs a bit from the cabinet stile (length). Peel the backing away and press the veneer into place, flattening it out with a credit card or a flat block. Repeat this step with the adjacent stile, then trim the excess material off with your utility knife and a straight edge. 

Apply the veneer to your cabinet front, making sure to cover and overlap the stiles. Then, use a carpenter square to match up the two pieces of veneer and cut through both pieces with a utility knife. Remove the excess and smooth out any bumps before repeating with the other cabinet fronts. 

7. Reassemble Cabinets 

Once everything is dry and cured, it’s time to put the cabinets and drawers back in their place and get your kitchen or bathroom back in working order. Match up the labeled numbers on the doors, drawer fronts, and boxes and screw your cabinet doors into your hinges to secure them in place. 

Slide your drawers back into place and screw your cabinet and drawer hardware into place. If you filled any previous holes, you may need to screw new holes into the doors and drawer fronts before adding the hardware.